Infant pacifying device



April 12, 1960 R. R. HORTON 2,932,821

INFANT PACIFYING DEVICE Filed July 22, 1958 WWW Arm/em? 2,932,821 INFANTPACIFYING DEVICE Robert R. Horton, St. Paul, Minn. Application July 22,1958, Serial No. 750,182 Claims. Cl. 340-384) This invention relates toa device for pacifying crying infants and more particularly relates to asmall, compact, portable device which can be simply placed on a surfaceon which an infant is supported, such as a bassinette mattress or thelike, and safely operated.

The problem of apparently causeless crying of infants, from birth toabout 3 months of age or older, has resulted in countless suggestedsolutions which have led to the production of such widely divergentpacifying means as simulated nipples and complex crib or bassinetterocking and/ or shaking attachments. Such means have obvious drawbackswhich detract from their more general adoption. The use of simulatednipples and similar foolers is often discouraged on the grounds ofmental health. The mechanical, and electrical crib rocking attachmentsand the like are bulky, expensive, and of specialized construction foreach particular type of crib.

Of the four senses, sight, sound, touch and taste, presently usedpacifiers usually appeal only to one of these senses. In fact, thedevelopment of all these senses in an infant is relatively primitive andappeals to the sight are generally meaningless. Appeals to the taste aregenerally discouraged, as in the case of the simulated nipples, andappeals to the touch such as the rocking attachments and the like areimpractical.

It is an object of this invention to provide an infant pacifying devicewhich performs its pacifying function by producing an audible buzzingsound or hum accompanied by the transmission of mild vibration createdby the buzzing unit of the device to the supporting surface on which thedevice is placed. Another object is to provide a small, compact,portable infant pacifying device which may be easily carried in thehand; yet another object is to provide a pacifying device which operatesto perform its pacifying function upon simple resting in placement on amattress or other infant supporting surface. Other objects andadvantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The infant pacifying device of this invention comprises a smallcompactcasing or shell housing a buzzer therewithin which emits a soft,audible buzzing sound accompanied by a mild vibratory effect, such asare encountered in the operation of an electric shaver or the like.

The invention will be more readily understood after a perusal of thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated.

Figure l is a perspective view of a pacifying device constructed inaccordance with the principles of this in vention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view lengthwise through the pacifyingdevice disclosing the interior thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the bottom of the device;

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of the electrical circuit in thedevice; and

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a bassinette or 2,932,821Patented Apr. 12, 1960 the like with parts being broken away for clarityof detail to illustrate an environment in which the device operates.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail there is shown inFigure 1 an infant pacifying device constructed in accordance with theprinciples of this invention and designated in its entirety by thenumeral 10. The device shown comprises a dome like shell or casing 12having a flat bottom 14 and may be conveniently formed of molded plasticor the like. In the illustrated embodiment the casing 12 is shown in theshape of a dome for its esthetic appeal as well as for the practicalprovision of an unobtrusive smoothly rounded casing which is free fromprotuberances, corners or sharp edges which might possibly injure aninfant. While the shell 12 is illustrated as having an access door 16 inthe dome for access to the interior thereof, such door may be providedin the bottom 14 (Fig. 2) of the casing.

The casing has mounted therewithin, as .illustrated in Figure 2, abattery holder 18 containing battery means (not shown), an electricalbuzzer 20 electrically connected therewith and a combination on-otfswitch and timer 22. The buzzer 20 may be a conventional bell type suchas used in doorbells and the like or small electric motor. The buzzer 20is securely and rigidly attached to the casing, as for example byembedding adhesion to the plastic bottom 14, whereby vibrationstherefrom are transmitted undiminished to the casing.

In the embodiment shown the bottom 14 of the shell' 12 is recessed as at24 to accommodate a control 26 of the combination on-otf switch andtimer 22. As is apparent from the fragmentary section of the bottom 14illustrated in Figure 3, the control 26 for the switch and timer 22 is adisc shaped member conveniently disposed within the recess 24 so that itdoes not project beyond the bottom surface of the shell and wherein itwill remain in a concealed spot without protrusion while the device isin operation. The control disc 26 is provided with a center button 28for turning the same between its off position and a selected timedoperating position, the control shown being operable for periods up to30 minutes. To operate the buzzer, the control 26 is simply turned fromits off position to line up the desired time interval with theindicating arrow 29 and the buzzer sounds for the indicated interval andis automatically stopped upon the expiration of the time set.

The electrical circuit is exceedingly simple as shown in Figure 4 andsimply comprises battery means 30 connected to the electrical buzzer orbell 20 with the electrical connection being interrupted by thecombination timer and switch 22.

In the operation of the device, the device is simply placed on asurface, such as the mattress 34 (Figure 5) of the bassinette 36 andoperated. Before placing the device on the bassinette mattress 34,

The buzzing sound emitted by the buzzer accompanied by the mildvibration transmitted from the casing to the mattress 34 has been foundto have a remarkable soothing effect on crying infants, apparentlyappealing favorably both to their sense of touch and their sense ofhearing. Being free from corners, edges, presenting only smoothlyrounded contours, and having the operational controls recessed in thecasing bottom, the device may be operated adjacent an infant in completesafety.

While in the preferred embodiment shown of the device, the device isbattery operated so that it comprises a self-contained unit, thebatteries being removable and replaceable through the access door 16, itis it may be a' V V t r 3 obviousthat the device could operatefrom ahouse current source through the medium of an electric cord if desired.Further, while a timer is desirable so that the device willautomatically stop and, can remain unattended it is not essentialand asimple on off switch will sufiice.

Also, as in thefca'se of a telephone buzzer or the like, the buzzer 20may be provided with a volume controlin the forrri of a projecting setscrew or the like 38 accessible through the passage 40 through thebottom 14 of the device.

Since other minor modifications and changes will occur to those skilledin the art after a perusal of the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawing, it is not desired to limit the invention to theillustrative embodiment shown and all suitable modifications arecontemplated which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vibratory and audible device for soothing infants and the like,said device comprising a small, compact, portable casing having anelectrical buzzer mounted fixedly therewithin and in immediate vibratorycontact therewith, operating means for said buzzer including anelectrical supply circuit leading from said buzzer for connecting thesame to an electric power source, said electric power source comprisingbattery means housed within said casing, said operating means includingswitch means for disconnecting the electrical supply circuit from the.buzzer, said buzzer producing an audible hum accompanied by mildvibration of said casing upon actuation thereof, said casing having asmoothly rounded domelike shape free of protuberances and capable ofbeing held comfortably in the palm of the hand.

2. A device for pacifying crying infants, said device comprising asmall, compact, portable casing having an electrical'buzzermounted'therewithin, operating means for said buzzer includingan-electrical supply circuit leading from said buzzer for connecting thesame to an electric power source, said electric power source comprisingbattery means housed within said casing, said operating means includingswitch means for disconnecting the electrical srupply circuit from thebuzzer, said casing having a generally flat bottom, said switch meanshaving a control projecting exteriorly of said casing and being recessedin said bottom, said buzzer beingfixedly secured to said 7 1: casing andtransmitting mild vibrations thereto upon actuation thereof; a I

3. A small, compact, device for soothing infants adapted to be operatedon a crib mattress or the like,

said device comprising a smoothly rounded rigid casing free fromprotuberances, sharp corners andiedges, said casing having a generallyflat bottom wall, and an electric buzzer housed within said casingsecurely fastened to said bottom wall, said buzzer emitting an audiblebuzzing sound and mildly vibrating said casi ng upon actuation thereof,and switch means for actuating said buzzer carried by said casing andaccessible. from the exterior therei of.

4. A small, compact, device for soothing infants adapted to be operatedon a crib mattress or the like, said device comprising a smoothlyrounded rigid casing free from protuberances, shaip corners and edges,said casing having a generally flat bottom wall, and an electric buzzerhoused withinsaid casing securely fastened to said bottom wall, saidbuzzer emitting an audible buzzing sound and mildly vibrating saidcasing upon actuation thereof, and switch means for actuating saidbuzzer carried by said casing and accessible from the exterior thereof,said casing comprising a smoothly rounded dome, said bottom wall thereofhaving an opening therein'in which said actuating switch is recessed.

5. A vibratory and audible device for soothing infants and: the like,said device comprising a small, compact,

portable casing having a smoothly rounded dome-like top free from sharpprotuberances and capable of being vgrasped comfortably in the palm ofthe hand, said casing having a bottom wall forming a smoothly curvedjuncture with the lower edge of said dome-like top, an electric buzzerfixedly secured to said bottom wall, a switch for actuating said buzzerrecessed in said bottom wall and accessible from the exterior of saidcasing, said buzzer vibrating said casing and emitting an audiblebuzzing sound when actuated.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBaezley June 30, 51953,

